Electrolytic protective means for boilers



March 1 7, 1931. A. KIRKALDY 1,796,715

vELECTROLYTIC} PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BOILERS Filed Nov. 3. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elwuemtoz Z 51 Gnome March 17, 1931.

A. KIRKALDY ELECTROLYTIC PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BOILERS Filed Nov. 5. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 ALEXANDER KTRKA'LDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELECTRO ,ANTI-OORROSION A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK nssrenon, BY manor AND MESNE CORPORATION, on NEW .YORK, n. Y.,

ELECTROLYTIC PROTECTIVE MEANS FOR BOILERS Application filed November 3, 1927. Serial No. 230,766.

This invention relates to electrolytic pro tective means for boilers and my improvements are directed in particular to (1) novel means for securing the support for a positive current conveying element to the boiler shell, while completely insulating said element from both the boiler shell and said support, (2) the employment of anode bars in the form of a grid, and insulated means for suspending said grid from the usual stay rods in the boiler, and (3) the use of current conductive means extended from the current conveying element to the anode grid. I

The purpose of'the novel support securing means is to rigidly attach the support for the current conveying member to the shell, the means-employed being screws engaging threaded sockets that penetrate only partway into the shell material, these sockets being independent of a relatively small orifice formed through the shell for passage of the insulated current conveying element.

The advantage in suspending the anode grid from the stay bolts by means of insulated han ers is obvious because thereby the use of special su'spensory support means is avoided. Also the conductive member that conveys electrical current to the anode grid need not in itself constitute the anode support.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a boiler, showing it as equipped with my improved electrode and anode grid supporting means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the electrode, showing the manner of its connection to a boiler shell, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the anode bars having the form of a grid.

In said views let 1 indicate a boiler shell, to whose interior surface, at the upper portion, my improved electrode is attached.

The electrode has the form of a stout rod 2,

depending from the upper portion of the boiler shell, a current conveying'rod 3 df relatively small cross-sectional area engaging rod 2 as by an end screw thread 4, said rod being projected through the shell for inclusion in an electrical circuit. For providing strong means of connecting the electrode to the shell a metallic saddle piece 5 is placed against said shell, the surface of said saddle piece opposed to the shell. being curved as a complement to the shell curvature and screws 6 are used to secure said saddle piece to said shell. The threaded sockets 7 that receive the screws extend only part-way through the shell material and therefore do not leave openings that need to be packed against steam pressure.

The saddle piece 5 is provided with a depending boss 8 that is screw threaded to engage an internally threaded thimble 9, whose lower end 10 is reduced in diameter to form the external shoulder 11 and internal shoulder 12.

Rod 2 is shown as being of enlarged diameter at its upper end, thus forming a head 13 that is in opposed relation to boss 8, an in sulating Washer 14 separating said head and boss. the rod 2 being securely united to the saddle piece by reason of the boss internal shoulder 12 taking under head 13. Insulating material 14' surrounds the bolt 2 throughout its length and lies between head i 13 and thimble 9.

The saddle piece 5 is bored centrally thereof, at 15, to contain a tube 16 of insulating material, and the shell 1 is bored at 17 with a larger orifice, in axial alignment with bore 15, said bore snugly receiving a metallic tube 18 that extends through the shell and has a threaded end 19 which screws into the saddle piece. The insulating tube 16 is extended through the metallic tube 18'to thereby limit the flow of electrical current to the rod or electrode 2, preventing, with insulation 14, 14, dispersion of such current to the thimble, saddle pie and shell.

A plate 20 having an internally threaded boss 21 is adapted thereby to engage the lower threaded end 22 of rod 2, said plate 20 being thus suitably distanced from shell 1.. Secured to said plate 20, as by bolts 23, is a current conveying bar 24, angled at 25, and thence depending a suitable distance within the boiler to extend below the water level, Where its end is angled, as at 26, and suitably connected toan anode bar 27. Said anode bar forms part of a grid which is here represented as also including the anode bars 28, 29, 30, 31, the grid being adapted to extend over a. large area within the boiler.

As means for suspending the anode grid within the boiler suitably insulated posts 32 are secured thereto, said posts being here shown as connected to the end bars 30, 31, and brackets 33 extended from said posts are adapted to engage the boiler stay bolts 34, to thereby support the grid.

In addition to the insulation 14 encasing rod 2 I provide an outer concentric tube 35 I of insulating material. extended between thimble 9 and boss 21, said tube 35 fitting at its lower end in a groove "Formed in boss 21 and at its upper portion engaging the reduced portion 10 of the thimblc, the upper end of said tube abutting against the shoulder 11. This tube 35 constitutes the main insulating distance member that prevents short v circuiting between the anode bar carrier and the shell, but in the event of its breakage sec ondary protection is afforded by insulation 14 Variations within the spirit and scope of my ,invention are equally comprehended by the foregoing disclosure.

. I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a boiler having horizontally disposed stay bolts, an electrode connected to and insulated from the boiler shell, an anode grid, means for communicating electrical current from said electrode to said grid, and a series of hangers connected to and insulated from said grid, said hangers adapted to removably engage said stay bolts for the support of the grid.

2. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a boiler shell, a metallic saddle piece opposed to the inner surface of said shell, screws threaded through said saddle piece and entered only part Way into said shell. to unite said members, an electrode carried by said saddle niece and extending inwardly therefrom. said shell and saddle piece being penetrated by a relatively small aperture, insulated means for conveying electrical current through said aperture, and means for insulating said electrode from said saddle 3. In apparatus of the character descrlbed, in combination, a boiler having horizontally disposed stay bolts, a metallic saddle piece carried by the inner wall of said-boiler, an

Bill I 

